It was perhaps a game Pacific FC was never destined to win. There were simply too many emotive overdrives working against the Tridents, and for Cavalry FC, in the latter’s 2-0 Canadian Premier League soccer victory Sunday which sent defending-champion PFC to its first loss of the season after three wins and a draw.
Not only was Cavalry FC making its home debut before a raucous capacity crowd at ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows, but goalkeeper Marco Carducci made his first start after successfully battling testicular cancer following last season.
“There are a lot of emotions. It’s a special feeling. It’s incredible to have the guys around me and record the clean sheet,” said Carducci, 25, in his post-game media Zoom session.
“They are my brothers, my teammates. It was a tremendous atmosphere and I got the energy from the crowd and that gave me an extra boost,” added the Canada-capped goalkeeper, who recorded the 21st clean sheet of his CPL career.
“This [cancer] experience has put everything in perspective for me. I am so lucky to be able to do something I love. It’s an honour to play.”
The Tridents, despite their pedigree as defending league champions, were never really in the game and allowed a goal by Ali Adem Musse at just two minutes.
“They had an extra man with the crowd and we didn’t start the game well,” said PFC star and six-time Canada capped Marco Bustos.
PFC head coach James Merriman went even further: “We weren’t ready. We were not good enough from start to finish.”
Cavalry FC coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. credited his club’s supporters.
“The crowd was amazing. I’m biased, but I believe they are the best fans in the league,” he said.
Then there was the Carducci factor.
“The lads wanted to win it for him,” said Wheeldon Jr.
Heading into Sunday, Cavalry FC was in the uncharacteristic position of starting the season with two losses and a draw, all on the road. Facing the league champions in the home opener was a daunting task for the Calgary club but it responded.
“Pacific has earned our respect,” said Wheeldon Jr.
“But we exposed them and were able to counter. We knew we could frustrate them.”
Especially, noted Wheeldon Jr., if the hosts got an early lead to spark the crowd, and his charges obliged just two minutes after kick-off. Veteran import Joe Mason, a former Ireland U-21 international who has experience with Wolverhampton, Bolton, Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle, then put it away for Cavalry FC with a goal at 37 minutes as Calgary avenged last year’s 1-0 extra-time loss to the Tridents in the league playoff semifinal.
PFC concludes its three-game road trip, which began last week with a scoreless draw in Edmonton, in the nation’s capital against Atletico Ottawa on Saturday.
“We will go back to the drawing board and look to [Ottawa],” said Bustos.
Merriman concurred: “It’s early. We lost and we’ll learn and move forward. It’s one game.”
PFC will return from Ottawa to face FC Edmonton on May 14 at Starlight Stadium.
